UAlbany Repeats As America East Women's Lacrosse Champions

Great Danes Travel to Gainesville, Fla. to face Gators in First Round of NCAA Tournament

BOSTON (May 5, 2012) -- The University at Albany's Women's Lacrosse team scored twice in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter to turn back a late Stony Brook rally and earn its second consecutive America East Conference Championship in a 9-7 victory Saturday at Nickerson Field.

UAlbany's Mel Rorie, with her three-goal performance, was named Championship MVP in the win. The Great Danes have now won the last two America East Championships. They will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the top-seeded Gators at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Stony Brook, in the second half, came back with a resurgence to tie the game up 7-7 with 4:59 remaining. The Seawolves were led by a 5-2 run with Demmianne Cook's two points (1 goal, 1 assist) and capped by Claire Petersen's second goal of the game.

UAlbany's Women's Lacrosse team celebrates its second consecutive America East Championship.

The Great Danes would take possession for the final four minutes of the game, as Maureen Keggins scored the game-winning goal at the 3:52 mark from a perfect pass by teammate Amanda Pollock. Pollock would then finish off with 11 seconds an open-net goal to give UAlbany its second NCAA apperance in as many years.

UAlbany goalkeeper Anna Berman (11-5) arguably played her best game between the pipes this season, shutting down the number one offense in the conference (14.38 goals per game) with five saves on 12 chances. Stony Brook goalkeeper Hannah Perruccio (6-4) also tallied five saves on 13 chances.

UAlbany (12-5) began the first half as it did in the America East Semifinals, 2-1, with 19:04 remaining. The first goal was setup up with Jess Antelmi receiving a pass from Amanda Pollock. Then Nicole Eamer from the back of the net made a perfect pass to a cutting Ariana Parker for the Great Danes second goal.

In between UAlbany's two goals, Stony Brook (14-5) made a bang-bang play with America East Player of the Year Claire Petersen making a great pass to teammate Demmianne Cook for her first goal of the postseason.

The Great Danes then went on a 3-0 goal stretch to extend its lead to four, 5-1, with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. Mel Rorie tallied two of the Danes three goals and teammate Amanda Pollock added two points in the mix, one goal and one assist.

Also on Saturday, UAlbany's Men's Lacrosse team was stopped one game short in its quest for a return to the NCAA Tournament, losing to Stony Brook 14-8 in the America East Championship. Conference Player of the Year Joe Resetarits had one goal, while Ty Thompson led the Great Danes with 3 goals. Freshman sensation Lyle Thompson, the top recruit in the nation in 2011, scored once and added three assists.

Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 17,500 students. An internationally recognized research university with 50 undergraduate majors and 125 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit http://www.albany.edu/. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.